Author Topic: The best movie to show in class - high school (Read 102828 times)

larsbac · « **on:** June 09, 2011, 01:35:06 PM »

I've found that the best movie to watch in high school is definitely REMEMBER THE TITANS (2000).

Not only is it a really entertaining movie, but I've found that it helps teach students about America but in an un-boring way. The movie a) Portrays an important time in American history b) Shows American football/school spirit c) Shows race relations in 1970's America... but all in a feel-good, Disney sort of way.

I've never been one to have students take notes/answer questions throughout the movie (I hated when teachers made me do this in school) so afterwards, I usually just have a discussion time with the students. I'll also try and reference certain scenes in the movie to drive home the point.

I torrented the movie (shh) and found subtitles off the GOM Player website. I know some people may feel that showing a movie in class may be a waste of time, but as long as you preface that there will be a discussion after the movie are serious about trying to explain some of the themes in the movie, then I think it can be a really worthwhile lesson. It took two 50-minute periods, but you could probably show a clip of the movie and have a discussion afterwards if you wanted to keep it to one class period.

My students really loved the movie--thought it was hilarious and entertaining. Please feel free to reply to this and mention any other movies that are good to show in class!

gugu009 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2011, 02:01:45 PM »

I'm interested. Do you mind sharing your discussion material etc.

What English level are your HS students? I work with lower level English students in a middle school, but am looking for something to show my grade 3 students. I was going to go with a Disney movie, but a movie that speaks to American history and actually has a lesson in it as well might be more fruitful.

gyopo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2011, 02:21:57 PM »

Everyone, can you please share your best movie recommendations (best movies to show students)?

Personally, I think the best movie to show in class (regardless of age/grade level) is Mr. Bean's Holiday (because it has minimal dialogue/language).

Anyone else want to share their recommendations?

cloud6 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2011, 02:41:28 PM »

This may not be relevant for this time of year but during my winter camp I showed my high school girls the recent movie "Valentine's Day" with Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner and many other big names. The girls LOVED it and it taught them a lot about Valentine's Day traditions in the West

Mo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2011, 03:49:00 PM »

I teach at a girls HS and "Bend it Like Beckham" seemed to be a hit. Gender roles, racial stereotypes and socioeconomic status seem to be interesting discussion topics.

nancy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2011, 07:56:26 PM »

My kids all loved High School Musical 1, 2, and 3. I have also shown Mr. Bean`s Vacation (the boys liked it the most). I showed The Corpse Bride at Halloween which seemed to go over well. The biggest surprise was Enchanted. I knew the girls would love it but the boys did too!

alecksh · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2011, 07:13:57 AM »

Hey, larabac, would you mind linking to the subtitles you used? I can't seem to find my way around the GOM website very well. Today is my school's sports day and I thought this would be a good film to show for my afterschool class.

Thanks!

bigboy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2011, 07:50:14 AM »

I've been showing Castaway to my all boys middle school. They seem to be interested in most classes. :)

wong812 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:00:34 AM »

Coraline = Winner
Despicable Me = Winner
Toy Story 3 = Winner
Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy = Intriguing but a little over their heads
Megamind = I love but they all saw too many times

ElinKorea · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:11:04 AM »

I watched Up with my 1st grade middle school kids and they loved it!

Generally they're pretty talkative through the movie but the suequence at the begining where it's just images of the two main characters growing old together the kids were completely absorbed by it!

taingray · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:33:37 AM »

I also showed Despicable Me and my middle school girls really liked it! They especially loved the little yellow guys ("귀엽다!") :D

KevinA · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:45:57 AM »

I've showed

Ratatouilli (*sp?) = awesome to introduce cooking for a winter/summer camp

The Truman Show = students really like this one. A couple students even told me they felt so moved that they started to make a positive change in their life to break their current social cycle and "get out, teacher, I must get out of same things. Like Truman, I have to see other things"

Back to the Future = students loved this too

It's a Wonderful Life = Students actually really loved this movie during winter camp despite it being black and white and very old. The core message and the great acting make this a hit with anybody.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs = pretty good
Shrek = not so good
Stand and Deliver = positive feedback though the students were bored at times with the content
Freedom Writers = some students liked it, some didn't, most were unimpressed but happy to watch a movie

MMadders · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:49:53 AM »

Home Alone 1 and 2 were good to show to low to med mixed middle school kids.

BlueEyes · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:03:20 AM »

Kung Fu Panda, the kids love it.

And if you want to add a little something to make it more than just watching a movie, make the kids find things through out the movie, like scavenger hunt. They Love It!

ArmoredButterfly · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:31:14 AM »

How to Train Your Dragon: My Middle schoolers loved this one. I thought most would have seen it already but at least 10 came up after saying "Teacher, what movie name? Write down please!"

Up: I don't recommend. I thought my kids would like the fact that there is a Korean kid in the movie, but the first 10-15 mins were too slow for my middle schoolers and they started talking, sleeping, and generally stopped paying attention and it kinda derailed.

And of course, Wall-E and Toy Story 3 were huge hits, even though most had already seen them.

xiongav · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:42:18 AM »

For elementary, any Pixar Animation Studios, movie.

For Middle/High: Jumper, Transformers (Worked great in my schools ^^)

simplypanda · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:59:08 AM »

I teach all girls so keep that in mind...

High School Musical - Big Hit!
Princess Diaries - Loved it
10 Things I hate about You - showed it to my 3rd grade middle schoolers, but it felt a bit uncomfortable with the sex talk...
She's the Man - super loved it... it's essentially a Korean drama in American movie form.
Labyrinth - haha... I tried, but it didn't go over well
Hocus Pocus - good for Halloween!
Ratatouille - my students really enjoyed this one

That being said... I don't really show movies often (actually... not really ever during the regular semester, except Hocus Pocus). I've been here a long time and I do at least 1 movie during camp.

young0706 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:17:44 AM »

What about " Ratatouiie " ?
It is a story about a mouse who wants to be a wonderful cook.
After watching we can discuss about students' dream in the future.
My students are elementary school students.
So they like it so much.

taebaekluke · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:33:53 AM »

All Boys' High School (Academic):

KICKASS (2010).

gore, violence, profanity, comedy, sexual references, action, american high school life

Everything a teenage boy wants in a movie. They went head over heels for it. I showed it over last Winter Vacation (extra classes when none of us wanted to be there) and they've been wanting to see it again.

Korean subtitles: http://subscene.com/korean/Kick-Ass/subtitle-336254.aspx (these titles are sometimes not entirely accurate, but whoever made them makes it even funnier at times in Korean).

This summer vacation classes (when none of us will want to be there) I want to show Dumb and Dumber, but haven't found Korean subtitles yet. If I find Clash of the Titans subs I'd show that otherwise...

taebaekluke · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:37:27 AM »

Ah...

Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Movie torrent: http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4111686/Dumb_and_Dumber%5B1994%5DDVDRip%5BEng%5D-NuMy.avi
Titles (Hangeul): http://gom.gomtv.com/jmdb/view.html?intSeq=690384&preface=0&spage=1